Sun staff
The village of New Richmond Police Department has promoted two officers to full-time status.
Officials from the department announced the promotions of Officers John Karl and Jesse Kidder on Feb. 9.
Chief of Police Randy Harvey said the additional staffing confirms that the department can provide 24-hour police coverage in the village.
“We have gone through a lot of part-time officers and it had gotten to the point where we were really struggling to keep full coverage,” he said.
Last year, the department lost eight officers through attrition, according to Harvey.
“The decision was made to hire full-time officers so that we could ensure that full-time coverage,” he added.
In addition, a second officer will be on duty during peak hours, which are from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The additional staffing will cost the village about $50,000 per year per officer, according to Mayor Ramona Carr.
“This took a big commitment on the mayor and council’s part to fund these full-time positions,” Harvey said. “I would not have been able to do this though the police levy funds; it took additional monies from the general fund.”
The village council approved the appropriations in September.
“It was brought to the Safety and Personnel/Finance Committees of council in August that Chief Harvey was having a difficult time getting opened shifts covered with part-time officers; there was a concern that shifts were going to go uncovered,” said Carr in an email. “This could create an unsafe situation; it was the recommendation that the chief be approved to hire two full-time officers.”
Appropriations for the department are sanctioned each year; Carr said the new full-time positions will be offered as long as funding is available.
“Council will have to continue to monitor the situation,” she added.
Karl, who has been with the department for eight years, has served as an axillary and part-time officer.
Kidder, who received national praise for his restraint in not shooting a homicide suspect in an April 2015 incident, has served with the department as a part-time officer for a year and a half.
Both went through a rigorous and thorough testing process before being promoted.
“They both scored very well,” Harvey said.
The two officers were pleased to receive the promotions, according to Harvey.
“These two guys had been looking and wanting full-time positions for a long time,” he added.
The department is now fully staffed with five full-time officers and one part-time officer, in addition to the police chief.
“Having those additional officers on will give us stronger coverage; I’m hoping the citizens themselves will realize that additional coverage,” Harvey said.
Carr echoed Harvey’s sentiments.
“Council wants no shift to go uncovered. With the additional officers, all shifts should be covered at all times,” she said.
She added, “We want our residents to feel safe.”